Weekend BO: ‘Funky’ flops, ‘Couple Friendly’ just about manages

Last weekend saw, mulitple films like “Funky”, “Couple Friendly” and “Seetha Payanam” hit the theaters. The much-publicized “Funky”, starring Vishwaksen, has turned out to be a box-office disappointment. The film opened to poor numbers on Day 1 and was heavily criticized for lacking substance beyond a few comic one-liners. Audiences and critics alike felt the film failed to deliver engaging content.

Despite hopes of a significant jump over the Maha Shivaratri holiday, the film did not show much improvement. “Funky” collected around Rs 5 crore net in India during its first weekend, marking one of the lowest opening weekends in Vishwaksen’s career. However, in the USA, the film managed to gross close to $250K. This is a good figure considering the negative reviews and weak word of mouth.

On the other hand, “Couple Friendly”, starring Santosh Sobhan and Manasa Varanasi and presented by UV Creations, performed modestly. Given Santosh Sobhan’s recent string of flops and limited box-office pull, the film’s lukewarm opening wasn’t unexpected.

The romantic entertainer received largely positive reviews and encouraging word of mouth. It collected approximately Rs 3 crore net in its opening weekend and grossed about $50K in the USA. While the numbers are not strong, the positive reception comes as a much-needed relief for Santosh Sobhan.

Overall, the Telugu box office remained dull this weekend, with neither film generating significant momentum.